About Me

I am an author and rum consultant. Through my company, Rum Runner Press, Inc., I offer the following services:
Consulting - Are you looking for importers or producers? Do you want information about the current state of the rum industry? Do you want to promote your rums? Do you need organoleptic assessments of your rums? We can help!
BATF Label Approval - For rum producers seeking to export rum to the USA. We can help you complete all the necessary documents.
Product Formulation - Do you want to develop a new rum for yourself or for one of your
clients?
Bulk Rum - Do you want to import bulk, aged or unaged rum? We can provide you with a wide range of rum types (heavy, light, young, old and very old).
Distillery Setup - Planning to start a new rum distillery? We can help you in all phases of the operation, from specifications, product acquisition, installation and staff training. We can even help you setup an aging warehouse with aged rums so you can start bottling rum from day one!
We are the only Rum Consulting Company dedicated solely to developing, promoting, protecting and supporting the Rum Industry. Please let us know how we can help you reach your goals.

Friday, January 13, 2012

(by Shanken News Daily) Walgreens debuted a 27,000-square-foot, high-end flagship store in Chicago earlier this week. The new two-story unit has numerous upscale features including a made-to-order sushi bar, a smoothie station, a barista serving local coffee, a cigar humidor and an expanded selection of gourmet foods, wine, spirits and beer. The store stocks more than 700 wines, compared to 70 at an average Walgreens location. Wine prices range from $18-$24 a bottle, although the store also boasts a 2006 Penfolds Grange for $449.99. The spirits selection also is impressive, with prices as high as $2,000 for Rémy Martin Louis XIII Cognac, and numerous beer offerings, including Walgreens’ private-label Big Flats 1901 beer and craft brews from Goose Island, Two Brothers Brewery and Great Lakes Brewing Co., among others.

Walgreens has been expanding the alcohol program at its roughly 7,800 stores throughout the United States. Up until the mid-1990s Walgreens was one of the country’s largest alcohol retailers, but it subsequently exited the business. In 2009, the company reinstated sales of wine, beer and spirits (where legal).

If this newest Chicago flagship proves successful, Walgreens will consider expanding the concept to selected neighborhoods throughout the U.S., although a company spokesperson said there are currently no specific expansion plans on the table.